Midterm Essay “The First Day” What idea does the author develop regarding how an important event can change your perspective? In the short story, “The First Day” by Edward P. Jones is about a little girl view on the people during her first day. Her mother prepare her gave her an unusually breakfast and clothes for her new school Seaton Elementary all the way down New Jersey Avenue. At the school Walker-Jones, a key event happens to her. She learns of an essential fact of her mother pervious past of her life and on how she acts. The daughter sees that the mother does not seem to like the teacher of her daughter new classroom. A significant event can changes how you use to see people from your old understanding into another completely different understanding of how you view them before. She had a usually day for her first day to school she was fed a usually unhealthy oatmeal with brown sugar with brand new clothes as well. The mother believed that her first appearances to school would be important. They lived on the street 1227 New Jersey Avenue where the school Seaton Elementary all the way across from where they live. Church Mt. Carmel Baptist her mother church is just across from the school. The mother of the daughter always told her that she would attend the primary school across from her church even when she was not born yet. A woman at the Entrance said “wrong school, that we should be at Walker-Jones”. The mother said that she wants her to attend this school and demands a reason why she cannot go to that school. She sees that her mother only wants her to appear at that elementary. Mt. Carmel Baptist is the mother church and she would feel separate from her connection to god if she does not have her attend to the school. T... ... middle of paper ... ...hat she does not obliges to what she said to her daughter on about staring to other people. She stared and looked at the teacher twice, which would demonstration that the mother does not like something about her. “Her lips are quivering,” said the daughter showing that her mother had tremble when she was talking to her. They touch and press the lips as an old game but instead the mother put her hand down on her side that indicated it was not part of the old game it was different. The mother shoes as she walked down the hallway from her daughter and the teacher made a very loud sound. Singing and talking in the classroom as they walked towards the room was still not loud enough to take away her mother shoes walking down the hallway. Here the mother is showing emotions that she does not approve of the teacher as in her actions and having loud steps down the hallway.
In conclusion, the story describes that life changes, and nothing stays the same throughout it. It is in the hands of the people to decide that how they want their life to be. They can make it as beautiful as they want to and they can also make it worse than it has ever been
The Mother walks through the city streets boisterously proclaiming that her daughter is a chess champion. She says, “This is my daughter Waverly-ly Jong.” Waverly quickly informs her mother that she is uncomfortable with her bragging to everyone. Despite the fact that Waverly is embarrassed, her mother does not care about how Waverly feels. Waverly finally snaps, when she says, “I knew it was a mistake to say anything more, but I heard my voice speaking, ‘Why do you have to use me to show off? If you want to show off, then why don’t you learn to play chess?’” Waverly understands that she is being used by her mother. She feels as if she is an animal in a zoo, who is behind a glass window, and out in display for all to see. For the first time Waverly is able to express how she feels about her mother’s control and mental abuse. Furthermore, Waverly insists that her mother is going to have to learn to play chess herself, if she wants all the attention. This climatic scene should be followed with a happy-ending; a moment of mother and daughter bonding, although the contrary occurs. The Mother is certainly not going to allow Waverly to insult her by expressing her opinion. Regardless of how upset Waverly is, the Mother will not stop publically proclaiming Waverly’s greatness. The Mother needs the attention of other people, “Most studies will show that mothers and fathers hell-bent on this image of perfection desperately need the world to take note of their kids’ awesomeness. It’s a way of saying, see, my kids are great. Therefore, I am great. Look at me. See? I’m a great parent. Really, I am” (Gault). Waverly’s mother desperately desires to be seen as successful and perfect. Announcing to everyone in the city that Waverly is a chess champion is her way of calling attention to herself. The only time Waverly gets the slightest
Susie’s mother opened the door to let Molly, Susie’s babysitter, inside. Ten-month old Susie seemed happy to see Molly. Susie then observed her mother put her jacket on and Susie’s face turned from smiling to sad as she realized that her mother was going out. Molly had sat for Susie many times in the past month, and Susie had never reacted like this before. When Susie’s mother returned home, the sitter told her that Susie had cried until she knew that her mother had left and then they had a nice time playing with toys until she heard her mother’s key in the door. Then Susie began crying once again.
...ther is losing her daughter to time and circumstance. The mother can no longer apply the word “my” when referring to the daughter for the daughter has become her own person. This realization is a frightening one to the mother who then quickly dives back into her surreal vision of the daughter now being a new enemy in a world already filled with evils. In this way it is easier for the mother to acknowledge the daughter as a threat rather than a loss. However, this is an issue that Olds has carefully layered beneath images of war, weapons, and haircuts.
Point of view is one of the single greatest assets an author can use. It helps to move the plot along and show what is happening from a character’s perspective. An author can make the plot more complex by introducing several characters that the reader has to view events through. The events can then be seen through different eyes and mindsets forcing the reader to view the character in a different light. From one perspective a character can seem cruel, yet, from another, the same character can seem like a hero. These vastly contrasting views can be influenced based on the point of view, a character’s background, and the emotions towards them. The novel Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich showcases some examples of events seen from different points
In The First Day, exposition has been applied in various sections. For instance, the story explains that the little girl is taken to the first school preferred by her mother where they are rejected, forcing them to look for another school. This device is used to give a deeper explanation about how determined the mother is taking her daughter to school and how much she wants her daughter to have a better life. This provides the audience with the reasons as to why the mother had to look for another school (Edward, 1950). Exposition is also expressed where the mother collects all documents that she thinks were required even though she could not read. This also indicates that the mother wants to ensure that nothing will prevent her daughter’s
The illustration of Margaret’s mother standing in the doorway looking down on Clementine shows there is a direct didactic lesson taking place. This picture reinforces the adult-centeredness that is being portrayed because her mother is an obvious authority figure and therefore knows what is right. Margaret’s mothers concern of Clementine’s and Margaret’s behavior shows that she is caring and giving the children knowledge that they should be taking to heart. She is teaching them a direct lesson. Margaret’s mother standing in the doorway, hovering over Clementine, shows that she is the center of authority and gives her power. When she tells Clementine that she should be in her room thinking about the consequences of her actions it shows that Clementine and Margaret need to be thinking about their actions and learning a lesson. Punishment weakens a behavior because a negative condition is introduced or experienced as a consequence of the b...
The daughter alludes to an idea that her mother was also judged harshly and made to feel ashamed. By the daughters ability to see through her mothers flaws and recognize that she was as wounded as the child was, there is sense of freedom for both when the daughter find her true self. Line such as “your nightmare of weakness,” and I learned from you to define myself through your denials,” present the idea that the mother was never able to defeat those that held her captive or she denied her chance to break free. The daughter moments of personal epiphany is a victory with the mother because it breaks a chain of self-loathing or hatred. There is pride and love for the women they truly were and is to be celebrated for mother and daughter.
She then shifts to discussing TV shows that bring family members together such as Sally Jesse Raphael or Oprah. As the mother imagines what it will be like when her daughter comes home, she brings out the imagery of tears and wrapped arms, and since we have all seen these shows, the reader can see the stage set up with four chairs and the daughter waiting for the parents to come out on stage. We can see the look of surprise on the daughter's face as they come out onto the stage. She has not seen her daughter, Dee, for a while and imagines b...
White, is experiencing a mental breakdown. He consistently confuses his own memories with the present time. It is almost as if he believes that nothing has changed since the last time he came to the lake. Change is a significant factor in the essay, but generally on time and maturing because change means a difference between the now and then. However in my perspective, things do not have to change to show progression. The best things in life that I have come in contact with are things that are familiar to me. Relationships that are with people that I love who I have not seen in a while are great because when we meet again to socialize, it is as if nothing has changed and we are back to being as close as ever. I love relaxing with my friends one last time before we have to go back to college because we get to catch up and get to know each other even more as we
Although, a mother’s determination in the short story “I Stand Here Ironing” mother face with an intense internal conflict involving her oldest daughter Emily. As a single mother struggle, narrator need to work long hours every day in order to support her family. Despite these criticisms, narrator leaves Emily frequently in daycare close to her neighbor, where Emily missing the lack of a family support and loves. According to the neighbor states, “You should smile at Emily more when you look at her” (Olsen 225). On the other hand, neighbor gives the reader a sense that the narrator didn’t show much affection toward Emily as a child. The narrator even comments, “I loved her. There were all the acts of love” (Olsen 225). At the same time, narrator expresses her feeling that she love her daughter. Until, she was not be able to give Emily as much care as she desire and that gives her a sense of guilt, because she ends up remarrying again. Meanwhile narrator having another child named Susan, and life gets more compli...
Then she saw a greasy china plate that had bread crumbs, cheese and sausage. The pungent of cheese made her stomach grumble. The man was very rude and insulted her because she couldn’t read. Then Frances headed home and on her way, she bumped into a girl with a nice, green, winter coat. She imagined her Ma in that coat, twirling around with a smile on her face. The girl’s mother said a rather offensive sentence about Frances and walked away with her daughter.
Point of view is an essential element to a reader's comprehension of a story. The point of view shows how the narrator thinks, speaks, and feels about any particular situation. In Toni Cade Bambara's "The Lesson," the events are told through the eyes of a young, mischievous girl named Sylvia who lives in a lower class neighborhood. The reader gets a limited point of view of view because the events are told strictly by Sylvia. This fact can influence the reader to see things just as she does. The strong language gives an unfamiliar reader an illustration of how people in the city speak. Bambara does this to show the reader that kids from lower class neighborhoods are affected by their environment due to lack of education and discipline, that how different one part of society is from another, and that kids learn from experience. We also get an insight of Sylvia’s feisty, rebellious nature and her lack of respect towards people with an education.
By stating how other people behave or interact, the author offers a great chance for readers to interpret fairly for themselves what the reason for any conflict may be, or the nature of any essential contrast between the narrator and other adults in the story. In the story, there are many self-righteous opinions from people, which seem to be ironic to the readers; For example, her mother’s aggressive attitude of showing off her daughter, her piano teacher’s self-praise claiming him as “Beethoven.” All of the narrations including conversation clearly depict a different characteristic between the narrator and other people. For instance, a conversation occurs between the narrator and her mother when the mother criticizing a girl who seems similar to the author on TV which reveals dissimilar understanding for both of them to each other’s behavior. At first, the daughter speaks out for the girl by questioning her mother by saying “why picking on her […] She’s pretty good. Maybe she’s not the best, but she’s trying hard.” The daughter actually is defending for herself and reflecting that she feels uncomfortable with her mother’s disregard of her hard work. She wants to get her mother’s compliments instead of her criticisms. However, her mother response of, “just like you,” and, “not the best. Because you not trying.” Here, her mother doesn’t really answer her question, instead wants her put more effort on trying, neglecting how much she has tried before. However, in her mother’s perspective, she has never tried hard enough. By narratively stating the conversations she has encountered, readers perceive a strong implication of the reason for a future conflict between her and her mother.
One of the main emotions that Elizabeth feels is anger. Elizabeth is angry with herself for sending her daughter away to a different school. She is angry that she is not the best equipped to take care of her daughter. Elizabeth is also very upset that her daughter was born this way. Elizabeth is part of a distinguished crowd, and during one of her functions Carla has an outburst. Elizabeth gets so upset by Carla’s outburst because “it was so embarrassing”. Elizabeth is embarrassed that her daughter does not behave like everyone else’s daughters. She is upset at the attention that Carla draws to her and for how everyone laughs at her and judges her because she cannot control her daughter’s actions. Along with the anger Elizabeth also feels disappointed, powerless, and also acceptance at times. Elizabeth is disappointed in herself, but also in Carla. The disappointment that Elizabeth feels also makes her feel powerless. Carla’s mother feels disappointed and powerless because she sent her daughter away. Elizabeth claims that “I’m gonna make it up to that girl”, she feels disappointed in herself because she could not take care of her daughter so she had to send her away from her family in order for her to be taken care of. Along with this, Elizabeth feels powerless when Carla returns to her family. Elizabeth says “there are mothers out